Stefanik promotes new chief of staff

Peter Crowley

Managing Editor

pcrowley@adirondackdailyenterprise.com

North Country Congresswoman Elise Stefanik has a new chief of staff after losing her most recent one to the private sector.

Patrick Hester has worked for Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, since her first term in 2015-16 and was most recently her deputy legislative director. The news of his promotion was announced through Politico’s Playbook column Tuesday.

Anthony Pileggi, a Herkimer County native, has been Stefanik’s chief of staff for the last six months and has worked for her for five years. He publicly announced he is leaving on Twitter Monday evening. He will serve as vice president of IMGE, a digital marketing firm based in Alexandria, Virginia, according to a press release from IMGE.

“I’m thrilled to join IMGE’s team,” Peliggi said in the press release. “Keep an eye on IMGE this cycle. We look forward to growing our list of clients and guiding them to victory in 2020.”

Stefanik’s original chief of staff, Lindley Kratovil Sherer, also left for the private sector, and Stefanik hired Peliggi in November 2018. He had previously managed her 2014 and 2016 election campaigns and was a district director for her. He has also worked as northeast regional political director for the National Republican Congressional Committee, and he worked for former upstate New York Rep. Richard Hanna as a district director and running his successful 2012 re-election campaign.